Week 3 - Robotics, Mass Production and the Diminishing "Aura"

(Figure 1 The Gutenberg Press.)

Before industrialization introduced mass production, the process of distributing literature throughout society was extremely tedious, as mentioned by Professor Vesna. This challenge of replicating ones work lead to a dis-proportionality of culture in society. Only the few with the right amount of money would have been blessed with one of the scarce copies of literature or artwork.

(Figure 2 Thinking Walter Benjamin
 in 18 Frames per Infinite Seconds
 Delineates Aura)

Although mass production was a promising solution to ensure proper distribution of products, some downfalls did accompany it. In his essay, Walter Benjamin discusses how mechanical reproduction of artwork causes the piece to lose its originality and authenticity, or aura. In a summary about Benjamin, Ginal stated, “A painting has an aura, while a photograph does not; the photograph is an image of an image, while the painting remains utterly original”. This loss of an “aura” can be seen in many products of mass production because of the inflexibility. Since all products of an assembly line are nearly identical there is little room left for the customers who crave some variety.

(Figure 3 David Hanson merges
 robotics and art to design life-like,
 social robots that can mimic human
expression and emotion.)

Despite its negatives, however, mass production offers many benefits to society as well, such as equal distribution mentioned above. Allowing machines, or “robots”, to mass produce items on assembly lines has greatly decreased the probability of human error, reduced labor costs, and increased the rate of production. Although some could argue the use of robotics in mass production takes away jobs from the public, I believe the benefits that come with an increased use of robots greatly outweigh the negatives. For example, in David Hanson’s TED talk, he discusses the production of robots that could show emotion. Although robots could never replace people, because of the need for actual human touch, many believe that robots could serve as companions to the lonely or elderly. According to an article in the NBC News, “The biggest benefits that robots could stand to give the elderly: they'll be left with more choice, more independence ... and less loneliness.”

(Figure 4 Satsuko Yatsuzaka (84)
holds a therapeutic robot named
Paro at the Suisyoen retirement
home in Iwaki, Fukushima.)

Although mass production can take away the “aura” of the original product, as discussed above, there are still many added benefits. For example Ginal states, “The cameraman intervenes with what see in a way which a painting can never do. It directs the eye towards a specific place and a specific story…” Also, according to Eduardo Kac, “…kinetic art contributed to free sculpture from static form and reintroduced the machine at the heart of artistic debate.”

Works Cited

Figure 1. Pearson, Barry. The Gutenberg Press. 2013. Photograph. N.p. Web. 20 Oct 2013. <http://www.leafletprinting.co.uk/blog/printing-history-the-gutenberg-press/>.

Figure 2. Kobayashi, Toshiyuki . Thinking Walter Benjamin in 18 frames per infinite seconds delineates aura. 2011. Photograph. Like You Art Network. Web. 20 Oct 2013. <http://www.likeyou.com/en/node/36997>.

Figure 3. Hanson, David. 2009. Photograph. TED. Web. 20 Oct 2013. <http://www.ted.com/speakers/david_hanson.html>.

Figure 4. Kyung-Hoon, Kim. Satsuko Yatsuzaka (84) holds a therapeutic robot named Paro at the Suisyoen retirement home in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, July 28, 2011.. 2011. Photograph. NBCWeb. 20 Oct 2013. <http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/my-robot-friend-people-find-real-comfort-artificial-companionship-6C10146787>.

Ginal. "Summary: The Work of Art in The Age of Mechanical Reproduction." Introducing the Frankfurt School. Word Press, 28 Feb 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.

Hanson, David. “David Hanson: Robots that "show emotion". TED, 2009. Film. 20 Oct 2013. <http://www.ted.com/talks/david_hanson_robots_that_relate_to_you.html>.

Kac, Eduardo. "ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF ROBOTIC ART." Art Journal. 56.3 (1997): 60-67. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.

Subbaraman, Nidhi . "My robot friend: People find real comfort in artificial companionship." NBC News Technology. NBC News, 03 Jun 2013. Web. 20 Oct 2013.

 Vesna, Victoria. “CoLE.” CoLE. N.p.. Web. 14 Oct 2013. <https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/63226/wiki/unit-3-view?module_item_id=970429>.